The Handbook of Deviant Behavior

The Handbook of Deviant Behavior presents a comprehensive, integrative, and accessible overview of the contemporary body of knowledge in the field of social deviance in the twenty-first century.

This book addresses the full range of scholarly concerns within this area – including theoretical, methodological, and substantive issues – in over seventy original entries, written by an international mix of recognized scholars. Each of these essays provides insight not only into the historical and sociological evolution of the topic addressed, but also highlights associated notable thinkers, research findings, and key published works for further reference. As a whole, this Handbook undertakes an in depth evaluation of the contemporary state of knowledge within the area of social deviance, and beyond this considers future directions and concerns that will engage scholars in the decades ahead.

The inclusion of comparative and cross-cultural examples and discussions, relevant case studies and other pedagogical features make this book an invaluable learning tool for undergraduate and post graduate students in disciplines such as criminology, mental health studies, criminal theory, and contemporary sociology.

Clifton D. Bryant is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Virginia Tech, US. He is the editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Criminology and Deviant Behavior (Routledge, 2001), editor of the Handbook of Death & Dying (Sage, 2003), co-editor of 21st Century Sociology: a Reference Handbook (Sage, 2007), and co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience (Sage, 2009). Other publications include Deviant Behavior: Readings in the Sociology of Norm Violations (Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 1990), Sexual Deviancy and Social Proscription: The Social Context of Carnal Behavior (Human Sciences Press, Inc., 1982), and Khaki-Collar Crime: Deviant Behaviour in the Military Context (The Free Press, 1979). He was also the founding editor of the journal Deviant Behavior.